Combination punch and reader units



O 1 Aprn 18, 196 L. J. LAPOINTE 2,980,320

COMBINATION PUNCH AND READER UNITS Filed May 22, 1959 34 39;" a lz '36Fig-l /2 6 4 .J

1 I7 38 44 21 23 43 l/ /4 27 I 4x ii lgiglgg m IiQnwQumQQmfi. x 26 Fig.43/ 28 ATTORNEYS i' ll INVENTOR LLOYD J. LAPOINTE United States PatentOficc This invention relates to a combination punch and reader unitconstruction for perforating or sensing perforated records; moreparticularly it relates to a combination punch and reader unitconstruction having elements common to both perforating and sensingfunctions; and specifically to a punch and reader unit constructionhaving common elements which are operable in part by, the tape beingpunched or read.

In brief this invention provides a combination punch and reader unitconstruction which is simple, reliable and inexpensive; one which has aminimum of working parts; and one wherein close accuracy in fabricationis not necessary.

The above desirable features are obtained through the employment ofspherical elements carried within holes in a plate and biased towardregistering dies in a die block vertically spaced from the plate. Inaccordance with the invention the spherical elements, when functioningas sensing elements, are adapted to be moved into and out of columnarperforations in a record as it moves columnwise past the elements; thelatter movement being effected by recordportions between columns ofperforations. Switch means operable in response to and simultaneouslywith the movement of the elements are employed to initiate electricalsignals representative of the code sensed. When functioning as.perforating elements, the spherical elements are adapted, incombination with a die plate, to be driven and to cut through anunperforated record and thereafter to be moved out of the holesperforated by the record as it moves columnwise to present succeedingcolumns.

A further feature of the invention is the fact that signalsrepresentative of the holes being punched may be simultaneouslydeveloped and employed to verify the accuracy of the informationpunched.

-An object of the invention is in the provision of a reliable punchandreader unit having a minimum of WOIk ing parts. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel construction whichmay be employed as a punch and as a reader.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combined punch andreader unit construction employing the record to be punched or read as aworking element.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a combined punchand reader unit which may be employed to punch or sense perforated tapeor the chadless variety of perforated tape.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which like referencenumerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof andwherein:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of the combined punch and readershowing the normal relationship between the parts with a recordoperatively disposed therein;

2,980,320 Patented Apr. 18,. 1 961 2 Figure 2 is a view similar toFigure 1 showing the relationship of the parts immediately after aholehas been punched in arecord; '1 V i 2 Figure 3 is a fragmentaryi'explo'ded cross sectional view showingthe ball switch construction;;and v Figure 4 is a front elevationalviewo f the combined punch andreader. i 1 g Referring now to the drawings. wherein like referencecharacters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the-severalviews thereofand wherein is shown a preferred embodiment, there islshown in Figure 1 'a U-shaped support bracket 11 secured as by. screwsor by any other suitable means to a frame member 12 in spacedrelationship with a record .feed drum 13 adapted, as will be appreciatedby those skilled in the art,fto periodically and incrementally .feed arecord 14 in.synchronization with the punching or sensing of the record;The .U-shaped support bracket .11 is, provided with cars 15 forsupporting a'shaft 16 .upon which are mounted for rotation a pluralityof levers generally designated 17 spaced predetermined distances'apartby collarsl8. The number of levers corresponds to the number of levelsemployed to code-information; the instantshowing being that of a fivelevel punch .orreader. Each lever has a laterally extending leg 21 andan upwardly extending leg 22. Legs 21 and 22 are terminated respectivelyby cylindrical projections 23 and 24. A plate member 25 integral withthe 'baseof the U-shaped support bracket 11 or otherwise suitablysecured. thereto .extendseto theleft as seen in Figures 1 and 2. Theplate member 25 .isprovidedwith aplurality of aligned holes26.disposed-,immediately below the projections 23. ln each h0l6iS aspherical element orball 27 normallymaintained by its respectiveprojection 23.. Mounted-on and spaced from plate member 25 is a dieplate 28 having a plurality of die holes 31 corresponding in number tothose in .plate member 25 and aligned therewith. The hole's31 inthe dieplate 28 are of smallerdiametenthan the balls 27 and more particularlyof a diameter relative to the balls such that standard .072" holes willbe perforated in the record 14. H

Projections .24 of levers 17 are adapted to operate switches eachcomprising a movable ball -contact 32 and a pair of stationary wirecontacts 33. .Theball contacts 32 are operated through plungers 34mounted in bores 35 of a block 36 of insulating material, such as nylon.The block of insulating material is suitably secured to the supportmember so that the plungers 34 will push against projections 24. Eachplunger 'is formed with a reduced end portion37 adapted to move betweencontact wires 33 and to engage its respective ball contact. Each-ballcontact is. biased toward its respective plunger by a spring 38 suchthat it normally-contacts its asso ciated pair of stationary contactwires 33 (Figure 3) and maintains the plunger 34 biased outwardly of thebore such that 'lever 17 is biased counter-clockwise and thesensing/perforating elements 27 are in turn biased toward associated dieholes 31. The pairs of stationary contact wires 33 are fitted into holesin the insulating block and cemented therein whereby they are insulatedfrom one another and from the wires of other pairs.

Suitably mounted on a bar or plate 41- secured to the frame are aplurality of solenoids 42 adapted to be selectively energized inaccordance with electrical impulse combinations representative of data;which impulse combinations may be derived from a reader or from anencoder associated with an input device such as a typewriter. Eachsolenoid has associated therewith a movable armature 43 biased in itsnormal position by a spring 44 as shown in Figure l. The armatures aredisposed immediately above their respective projections 23. Uponenergization' of the solenoids 42 the arrnatures 43 will move downwardlyagainst the tension of springs 44 as shown in Figure 4 striking theprojections 23 and thereby driving the ball sensing/punching elements 27which in combination with'the die holes 31, perforate a record passingbetweenplate' member 25 and die block 28.

Figure 1 shows the position of the parts with an unperforated portion ofa record passing between the elements 27 and plate 28; the ball switchesbeing open as shown by the switch tothe left in Figure 3.

Figure 2 shows the position of the parts when a perforated portion of arecord is between elements 27 and plate 28; the ball switch associatedwith the element in the perforation being closedas shown by the switchto the right in Figure 3. Figure 2 also is an illustration of theposition of the parts immediately after element 27 has been forcedthrough the record by armature 43; the paper being cut by the elementand the area of contact with the opening of the die hole 31 which may ifdesired be shaped to produce chadless tape as will be understood bythose skilled in the art. After a punching operation or after aperforation in a record has been sensed the record will move column-wiseand in doing so the edge 45 of the record (Figure 2) will cam theelement upward in preparation for punching or sensing succeeding columnsof the record.

As will be understood as a record is being sensed the elements 27 willmove in and out of perforations in succeeding columns whereby the ballswitches associated therewith will be opened and closed, a closed switchbeing representative of a perforation in the record. As will beunderstood when the ball switches are closed, circuits including thepair of wires associated therewith, one each of which is connected to apower supply 46 as shown in Figure 4, will be energized. These circuitsas will be understood by those skilled in the art may include the set upsolenoids of a decoder, the output of which may be connected to actuatean automatically operated typewriter or the like.

Obviously the ball switches may be similarly employed during punchingoperations whereby the data punched could be simultaneously verified atthe typewriter.

It should be understood, that the foregoing disclosure relates to only apreferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to coverall changes and modifications of the example of the invention hereinchosen for the purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitutedepartures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

1. Apparatus of the type described which is capable of sensing andperforating a record having data items in columns transverse to recordmovement, said record being adapted to be moved past asensing/perforating station; comprising a frame, a pair of spaced platemembers mounted on said frame and forming a channel through which saidrecord is moved columnwise, a plurality of elements mounted within afirst of said plate members 4 for movement into and out of contact withthe other plate member, means comprising switch means mounted on saidframe for normally yieldably biasing said elements into contact withsaid other plate member, said switch means being operable simultaneouslywith the movement of said elements toward and away from said other platemember, said elements being moved out of contact with said other platemember when unperforated portions of said record pass through saidchannel, perforated portions of said record permitting said elements tomove into contact with said other plate member under the action of saidbiasing means, means for selectively driving said elements and anunperforated portion of a record in said channel into contact with saidother plate member, and means on said other plate member co-operatingwith said selectviely driven elements to eifect'a circular line ofcontact whereby the record therebetween is perforated.

2. Apparatus of the type described for perforating and sensing recordshaving data items coded in columns transverse to the direction of motionof said records, said rec ords being adapted to be moved through asensing/perforating station; comprising a frame, a pair of spaced platemembers mounted on said frame and forming a channel through which arecord is to be moved columnwise, a column of aligned holes in each ofsaid plate members, a plurality of spherical elements disposed withinthe holes of one of said plate members, the holes on said other platemember having a diameter smaller than that of said spherical elements, ashaft mounted on said frame transverse to the direction of tapemovement, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted on said shaft; meanscomprising switch means associated with one extremity ofeach of saidlevers for normally yieldably biasing the other extremity of said leversinto contact with said spherical elements whereby said sphericalelements are in contact with edges of said smaller diameter holes insaid other plate member, said elements being movable out of contact withsaid other plate member by unperforated portions of a record passingthrough said channel thereby operating through said levers said switchmeans, and means for selectively driving said other extremities of saidlevers, whereby said elements and unperforated portions of a recordpassing through said channel are forced into contact with the edges ofthe holes in said other contact plate to effect perforation of saidrecord.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for selectivelydriving said levers comprises the armatures of solenoids mounted on saidframe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,578,717 Daubmeyer Mar. 30, 1926 1,608,493 Daubmeyer Nov. 30, 19261,649,635 Willard Nov. 15, 1927 2,475,307 Brand July 5, 1949

